Vacaville pastor suspected of arson targeted in meth probe

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Mark Lewis, 39, the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church since 2000, was one of four people arrested on suspicion of firebombing a Vacaville home in early January.

A pastor in Vacaville, already a suspect in the firebombing of an ex-girlfriend’s home, has been under investigation for dealing methamphetamine for the past two years, according to court records obtained by the Daily Republic in Fairfield.

Mark Lewis, 39, the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church since 2000, is accused of targeting the home of his former girlfriend on Chateau Circle on Jan. 9, when someone tried to throw a Molotov cocktail into the residence, police said.

None of the six people inside the home, which included three children, were hurt, but police did arrest three individuals – Anthony Newbolt, 33, of Sacramento; Richerd Wright, 28, of Sacramento; and Kristen Broyles, 30, of Citrus Heights – not far from the scene.

Evidence in their vehicle linked them to the attack and two of the three told police that they had been staying at the Fellowship Baptist Church because they were homeless.

Lewis came under investigation when police determined that a woman who lived at the home had an active restraining order against him for several incidents targeting the woman, including one in which bushes in front of the home had been set on fire.

The pastor denied any involvement with the firebombing, saying the other three suspects were framing him. Investigators said Newbolt, Wright and Broyles each told them that they were paid by Lewis to heave the firebomb at the home, according to the Daily Republic.

A police search of the church and Lewis’ adjoining home, north of Vacaville, turned up evidence linking him to the crime, as well as a handgun and methamphetamine, authorities said.

Court records filed by an undercover Vacaville police officer this week suggest Lewis could be linked to a host of other crimes. According to the documents, at least three informants in the past two years told investigators that Lewis was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine, as well as witness intimidation, vandalism and burglaries.

Lewis’ ex-girlfriend told reporters that the pastor used his position within the church to manipulate his followers – gaining the trust of those most vulnerable and then pressuring them to do his bidding. Those claims were supported by at least three others who told investigators Lewis compelled them to get him methamphetamine and vandalize the property of those who had wandered too far from his flock.

Lewis did not appear at a Wednesday hearing at which his ex-girlfriend was granted a three-year extension to her restraining order.

The pastor was arrested Jan. 10 on suspicion of arson of an inhabited dwelling, stalking and conspiracy, but quickly posted $500,000 bail. Prosecutors have not filed charges against him but the case remains under investigation, the Daily Republic reported.